Vibration and force absorbing assembly incorporated into a building foundation for dampening the effects of environmentally induced events

ABSTRACT

An improved hold down vibration dampening assembly suitable for minimizing property damage resulting from high winds or earth tremors, typically resulting from a natural event. A plurality of individual dampening assemblies are provided, typically located one per corner of an associated foundation structure. Each of the assemblies most broadly includes a heavy gauge steel frame, mounting at an intersection between a vertically extending wall stud and a horizontally extending wall base, and within which is supported a heavy duty die spring. A threaded rod extends vertically in seating fashion through the spring, a large hex nut securing a top end of the rod while a bottom portion anchors through the wall base, such that misalignment forces applied from base to the wall are absorbed by the assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Non-Prov of Prov (35 USC 119(e)) application 60/826,836 filed on Sep. 25, 2006, and entitled Vibration and Force Absorbing Assembly Incorporated into a Building Foundation for Dampening the Effects of Environmentally Induced Events.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to such as earthquake or tremor related force absorbing assemblies. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved hold down or vibration dampening assembly suitable for minimizing property damage resulting from high winds or earth tremors, typically resulting from a natural event.

A plurality of individual dampening assemblies are provided, typically located one per corner of an associated foundation structure. Each of the assemblies most broadly includes a heavy gauge steel frame, mounting at an intersection between a vertically extending wall stud and a horizontally extending wall base, and within which is supported a heavy duty die spring. A threaded rod extends vertically in seating fashion through the spring, a large hex nut securing a top end of the rod while a bottom portion anchors through the wall base, such that misalignment forces applied from base to the wall are absorbed by the assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is well documented with examples of vibration absorbing devices, such as are intended to respond to the incidences of earthquake tremors and the like. In particular, such absorbing devices are mandatory, or at least highly desirable, in certain geographic areas corresponding to high levels of earthquake activity.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,953, issued to Ciringione, teaches a stable platform with vibration absorbers for use with a pendulously supported stable platform assembly. A cylindrical mass is axially supported by a spring rod and immersed in a viscous medium contained within a light-weight container of slightly larger size. A pair of vibration absorbers are mounted 180 degrees apart on a stable platform of a navigation system with their axis vertical for attenuating vibratory energy in the stable platform in any horizontal direction.

Additional examples of vibrationary or movement restraining assemblies include such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,409, to Sato, U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,102, to Lloyd, U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,001, to Nishimura, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,692, to Yano, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,908, issued to Davis. Yet additional examples of vibration dampening building supports include those set forth in Japanese Patent Abstracts JP10299828 (Tokai Rubber Ind. Ltd.), JP04136373 (Shin Meiwa Ind. Co. Ltd.). JP11190148 (Ohbayashi Corp.). JP10082203 (Arai Gumi Ltd.), JP20304093 (Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co), and JP58176321 (Ogino Yoshiyasu).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses an improved hold down vibration dampening assembly suitable for minimizing property damage resulting from high winds or earth tremors, typically resulting from a natural event. The hold down vibration dampening assembly is an improvement over prior art foundation supporting and vibration dissipating devices, in that it is more conveniently secured in a perpendicular joint location between associated horizontal and vertical extending supports.

In practice, a plurality of individual dampening assemblies are provided, each of which are typically located at respective corners of an associated foundation structure. Each of the assemblies most broadly includes a heavy gauge steel frame, mounting at an intersection between a vertically extending wall stud and a horizontally extending wall base, and within which is supported a heavy duty die spring.

A threaded rod extends vertically in seating fashion through the spring, a large hex nut securing a top end of the rod while a bottom portion anchors through the wall base, such that misalignment forces applied from base to the wall are absorbed by the assembly. In this fashion, the individual assemblies provide for improved force and motion dissipation, such as associated with a naturally occurring seismic event, along with a simplified and lower cost architecture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of the force and vibration absorbing assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hold down assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention discloses at 10 an improved hold down or vibration dampening assembly suitable for minimizing property damage resulting from high winds or earth tremors, typically resulting from a natural event. As previously described, the hold down assembly is particularly suited for dampening forces associated with earthquakes, other types of seismic disturbances, or high winds and which would otherwise tend to damage a foundation supported structure located proximate to the dynamic event.

As shown in FIG. 1, the structure includes at least a horizontally extending foundation, referenced at 12, and an interconnected and vertically extending wall support 14. It is further understood that the hold down assembly according to the present invention is typically provided as a number of individual units, each located at an associated corner or mid-length location of a foundation supported wall and such as is associated with a freestanding structure. The specific location and placement of the individual hold down assemblies can further be determined by a general contractor utilizing local, state and federal codes.

A bracket 16, see also FIG. 2, is provided, typically as a heavy gauge, galvanized steel construction, and which exhibits a substantially “L” shaped profile defining a first face 18 secured against a base extending location of the vertically extending support 12, as well as a second face 20 supported upon the horizontally extending foundation. The bracket 16 further includes first and second reinforced side ribs interconnecting the first 18 and second 20 faces, see as shown further at 22 and 24. A plurality of lag bolts (not shown) extend through apertures 26 in the first face 18 of the bracket 16 and mount to associated locations of the vertically extending support 12.

An elongated rod 28 extends through an aperture 30 defined in the second bracket face 20 and in order to anchor within the foundation 14. The rod 28 exhibits a substantially elongated and circular cross-sectional shape and is likewise constructed of a heavy duty steel or other suitable material exhibiting the necessary properties of strength, durability and force absorption/redirection. A lower end of the rod 28 is referenced at 32 and, as shown in FIG. 2, may be angled in order to further increase its embodiment into the foundation 14 (e.g. concrete). As further best shown in FIG. 1, an upper extending portion of the rod projects in a substantially parallel and spaced apart fashion relative to the first face 18.

A spring 34 is provided and seats about an upwardly extending portion of the rod 28. The spring 34 exhibits a specified shape and size and further is typically provided as a steel coiled die spring against which the rod 28 exerts at least one of a compressive and a tensile loading force.

In a preferred arrangement, an end nut 36 secures (such as threadably) to an extending end 38 of the rod 28, in biasing fashion against a top extending end of the spring 34, and in order to transfer motion of the rod 28, resulting from movement of the foundation such as in response to an earthquake, to the spring. Alternatively, wind forces applied against the vertical extending wall support 12 can be dissipated, or dampened, in a reverse direction to the foundation 14 via the interconnection established between the bracket 16, rod 28 and dampening coil spring 34. A retaining washer 40 is preferably installed over an end of the rod 28, and in biasing fashion between the nut 36 and the upwardly extending end of the spring 34. In a preferred application, the hex nut is threadably tightened to compress the spring to a determined. e.g. maximum life, setting or to adjust the degree of biasing/dampening support.

Having described my invention other and additional preferred embodiments will apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the appended claims. 

1. A force absorbing assembly incorporated into a structure including at least a horizontally extending foundation and an interconnected and vertically extending wall support said assembly comprising: a bracket including a first face secured against the vertically extending support and a second face supported upon the horizontally extending foundation; an elongated rod extending through an aperture defined in said second bracket face and anchoring within the foundation; and a spring seating about an upwardly extending portion of said rod, an end nut secured to an extending end of said rod transferring motion of said rod, resulting from movement of the foundation, to said spring.
 2. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 1, said bracket having a specified shape and size and further comprising a heavy gauge, galvanized steel construction.
 3. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 2, said bracket further comprising a substantially “L” shape with first and second reinforced side ribs interconnecting said first and second faces.
 4. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of lag bolts extending through apertures in said first face and mounting to associated locations of the vertically extending support.
 5. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 1, said spring having a specified shape and size and further comprising a steel coiled die spring against which said rod exerts at least one of a compressive and a tensile loading force.
 6. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising interengaging threads established between said end nut and said circular cross-sectional end of said upwardly extending rod, a retaining washer installing over an end of said rod and biasing between said nut and an upwardly extending end of said spring. 